Liberty; telling the Lord," he must do it, because they prayed in faith, and that if Christ did not do it directly, they would tell his Father of him :" and it was just then that the light broke in upon her soul.

Bri. But Sir, is this the proper language for sinners to make use of before the eternal throne of God, when our minds should be filled with the deepest reverence and awe?

Whim. O Sir! they only use the same sort of language that the importunate Widow did before the unjust Judge.

Bri. But are we to conceive that such metaphors and allusions can produce a proper apology for such daring expressions? Can the importunate language of that Widow, before an unjust Judge, sanction a similar address before an infinitely just and holy God?

Whim. Perhaps some of the exhorters may go too far. But I am sure he pardoned them, or he would not have justified Sally Fancy, which immediately took place; so that she got up from her knees, and began singing with the preachers directly. And just then, another woman received forgiveness, and began to sing with several others. But as it happened, they struck up in such different tunes, that it was impossible to find what was sung; and if it had not been for that and another circumstance, just at that time, there would have been singing all the Chapel over.

Slapd. I have a little curiosity to ask, what that other circumstance could have been?

Whim. Why two persons, who were told what marvellous doings were carrying on at the Chapel about that time, in hopes of being convinced of sin, just then came in, but for want of faith, in that instance, they could not obtain it; and yet one of them prayed so earnestly, that he was all in a sweat, and his eyes were ready to start out of his head; and one of these men felt so much, that it was as much as two people could do, to hold him down, for he wanted

to run away before he was convinced; but the constables kept all as quiet as they could.*

Slapd. Really Sir, if I had been there, I should have thought myself in Bedlam.

Whim. Bedlam Sir! why what could have been more glorious! And while I was praying in one corner of the chapel, I had such strong faith given me, for Jennet Meagrim, one of the class-leaders, that she instantly received the second blessing of christian perfection, and I am sure it was at that very moment I prayed in faith that it might be given her, and now she is as free from sin, as she will be in heaven.

Slapd. What, while she is still carrying about with her "a body of sin and death!!"

Bri. I confess, Mr. Whimsey, I never could understand your doctrine of perfection, and it appears to me such a sort of imperfect perfection after all, that a person will do better without it than with it; for as to the milder remedial law, that some of you talk about, that if we do as well as we can, instead of doing as well as we should, that is all the law now requires; if some of your friends are contented with such a loose law, I confess I am not.†

Slapd. It is to be hoped that every real Christian has a perfect, or an upright heart; but alas! we have so much to contend with, from the remains of corruption, that the best of us have need to cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

Whim. O Sir! Jennet Meagrim said, she directly felt sin destroyed in her, root and branch, and that it went through her like a flash of lightning, and immediately she cried out for joy, "He is come! he is come!"

*It is too true, that the civil magistrate has been under the necessity of employing the peace officers, to guard against the evil consequences of these wild proceedings, so contrary to the decency and order the gospel inspires.

+ See Dialogue XXVII.

Slapd. Pray Sir, don't you think a deal of all this is produced by violent and improper efforts, upon the animal passions, that is rather prejudicial, than beneficial to that real good, which God communicates to the heart?

Whim. Sir, what can be better, than to be perfectly freed from all sin?

Bri. May I ask, Sir, when I lived with you, was it an imagination or a reality, that made Mrs. Whimsey's maid fancy that she was perfect, when three days after, she fell into a violent passion with her mistress, because she thought proper to lock up the pepper and salt, and not to allow her to keep the key of the butter any longer?

Whim. O Sir, she lost it for a while, but she is trying to recover it again.

Bri. May I ask again Sir, how far you recollect the tricks which were played off, some years ago, by Dr. Demanaduke and others, when animal magnetism was in vogue? What strange and astonishing effects were produced thereby? and are not the efforts now making, very similar, when people are so strongly urged to expect such unwarrantable impulses, which they are to conceive, as being absolutely necessary to the salvation of the soul?

Slapd. Yes, and these sort of devotions seem to be offered up much in the same style of the ancient exorcists, as though the Devil actually possessed the minds of some, who needed deliverance by such efforts of extraordinary imprecations, as at times, are very shocking and profane.

Whim. O Sir! I believe the Devil at times, and among some people, has great power over the human mind, and we always find the deliverance is granted, when the preachers are the most violent and earnest in prayer for you know, "the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence," and just when I was most earnest, then it was, that Jennet Meagrim received perfection." Bri. Surely Sir, as a beneficed Clergyman, you

were not one of the actors, in this stage of enthusiasm.

Whim. O no Sir! My prayer of faith, was offered up quite privately, at one corner of the Chapel; and I know a good, faithful soul, who was a washerwoman, that said, she was sure to have fine weather to dry her linen, if she could but pray in faith.*

Slapd. I should hardly suppose, that the Lord would alter the course of the clouds, for the sake of gratifying an old woman, during her washing-week.

Whim. O Sir, if you don't believe it, I do. And I remember another good lady, who was a milliner at Bath; expecting that there might soon be a Court mourning, she in faith, made up a great number of mourning caps; and while her husband thought that she was doing wrong, fearing that much might be lost,

* Much of this false confidence in prayer, seems to originate from a conceited excellency in our devotions, arising from the mere strength of our imaginations. But where a spirit of warm and wise devotion is given, for any particular blessing, may we not take it as a good indication, that it is the gracious design of God to answer such supplications? Certainly we may, for "the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man, availeth much;" but then we should have a scriptural warrant for what we ask, for instance, There is a wide difference between that prayer of faith, which was given to some by a miraculous impulse, before miracles were withheld; while there is still a prayer of faith, an answer to which every real Christian has yet a right to expect its being granted. While we cannot with too much confidence, yet with reverence, pray for all those spiritual blessings which are promised in Christ Jesus, to all believers; yet diffidence equally becomes us, while we lawfully ask that which God may most righteously refuse to grant. We may and should pray fervently for our own daily preservation, and as we are sociable beings, for the preservation of useful and valuable lives, and for the salvation of our nearest and dearest friends and relatives: but we have no warrant to conclude our prayers must at all times be answered, and that according to the strength of our imaginations. In many instances like these, God may try our patience, by very painful denials, while some good people, not altogether freed from a degree of innocent enthusiasm, may be brought into considerable perplexities, when such blessings, which we lawfully and properly pray for, are still withheld.

for want of customers; she went up stairs, and laidl the caps before the Lord in prayer, and there was almost immediately a court mourning; which as it turned out, turned in, most wonderfully to her profit; so that you see Sir, the Lord led her right.

Slapd. [Smiles.] Well, this is the first time in all my life, that ever I heard of caps being laid before the Lord.*

Bri. You know Sir, when I was your Curate, we had frequent discussions on these subjects, and we never could agree; but I fear that all these strange impulses, and impressions upon the fancy, which naturally lead to the grossest misconceptions of the power of Divine grace, have an unhappy tendency, most sadly to mislead. I confess, I was at times inclined to suspect the reality of these things alto gether, till better taught. And I greatly bless God for that kind Providence which has directed me into these parts, where, I trust, I have seen genuine Christianity, without any of these wild extravagancies exemplified in all those wise and holy fruits of righteousness, which must abound in them, who are blessed with the purifying knowledge of the Gospel upon the

heart.

I am satisfied with you Sir, that a saving discovery of the evils of sin, can never be made known to us; but by the convincing influences of the Holy Spirit, and

* The reader has this story just as I had it from the lady herself, many years ago. She was a very innocent and wellintentioned enthusiast. Many may have weak heads, but upright hearts. The bad consequences of trusting on whimsical impressions, may not have the same effect on all, though it is not my wish to cause my weak brother or sister to offend; yet follies of this sort, are too abundant and notorious to be hid.

I am very happy to acknowledge at the same time, that many of the most judicious, belonging to the same body in which these enthusiastical scenes are exhibited, enter their most solemn protest against them; their honorable testimony in opposition to such evils, deserves the highest thanks from all, who better understand the Spirit's work, than to suppose such disorderly exhibitions, can be the result of communications from a Being, who is infinitely wise and good.